The 2007 New Zealand local elections (MÃÂori: Nga PÃ Âtitanga ÃÂ-Rohe 2007) were triennial elections that were held from September until 13 October 2007 to elect local mayors and councillors, regional councillors, and members of various other local government bodies.
All 12 of New Zealand's regions and all 73 cities and districts participated in the election.
The single transferable vote (STV) method was first used at the 2004 local elections, when ten districts and city councils employed this alternative to first-past-the-post voting (FPP). Of those ten, two district councilsâÂÂPapakura and Matamata-PiakoâÂÂreverted to FPP. The remaining eight councils that used STV in 2007 were Kaipara, Thames-Coromandel, KÃÂpiti Coast, Porirua, Wellington, Marlborough, Dunedin, and the Chatham Islands. All other councils used first past the post.
All district health boards (DHBs) used STV.
The regional level of government in New Zealand is organised into areas controlled by regional councils.
The city and district level of government in New Zealand is organised into areas controlled by territorial authorities. Some of these also have the powers of regional governments and are known as unitary authorities. The Chatham Islands have their own specially legislated form of government.
All territorial authorities (including the unitary authorities) directly elected mayors.